The Auction Addict: Good Buy Friday: Chairs

The weekend approacheth, for it's Friday, a time of prolonged web surfing, ever-more-casual attire, and odd chairs. Yes, you read that right. On Fridays, The Auction Addict is going to focus on what are, in her humble opinion, auction items that have the potential to be particularly good buys, and first up are odd little--and, in some instances, not-so-little--chairs.

Photo: Maria Quiroga
Bunny Williams's, 2009 Kips Bay "All in One" room, gets some zing
from a red Egg chair

Furniture in general tends to be a particularly good buy at auction, for reasons we will get into later; for now, let's simply say that orphaned, lone, oddly fabulous chairs can be both a good deal and a smart move, for they go a long way in enlivening a room.

House Beautiful, photo: Thibault Jeanson
The odd spindly chair in this Timothy Whealon designed living room
adds a splash of dash.

Let's face it, anyone can do perfectly matched rooms: just open a catalog and order away, or hire a third tier decorator.

Throw in the odd chair, however, and the balance shifts. Off kilter is more interesting, more memorable and, ironically, more pleasing to the eye.

Perusing the best of the best interior designers, I cannot help but sense that they all share my passion...

House Beautiful, photo: Christopher Baker
Two interesting chairs (check out the little black on in the foreground)
plus an unusually shaped bench, are in view in this classically chic library, designed by Albert Hadley.

they certainly know how to put special chairs to good use...

House Beautiful, photo: Thomas Loof
Many great--and different--chairs in one view
at Jeffrey Bilhuber's charming country retreat

So, let's see what unique oddities we can scare up at the auction houses.

Would you care for a gothic walnut chair, offered by Stephenson's Auction in Pennsylvania, for auction today, estimate $60-100.

19th century gothic walnut chair,
at auction May 20th.

Or perhaps paper-mache? This one is in Los Angeles at Artingstall & Hind, on May 22nd, estimate $600-700.

19th c paper mache armchair, at auction May 22.
Check out that gorgeous seat!

Or perhaps your dwelling needs a touch of Swiss mountain magic, temporarily residing at Klein James in Seattle, estimate $200-300...

c. 1910 Swiss side chair,
at auction May 26th

19th c gilt ecclesiastical side chair,
at auction May 21st

Rooms come to life, especially at night, when there's a touch of gilt. I am absolutely in love with this Ecclesiastical side chair, right, which is being auctioned off on May 21st by Crescent City in New Orleans. The estimate is $100-200. This terrific Chinoiserie-type faux bamboo chair, attributed to Herter Bros, below, has me swooning as well (though for that, I'll need a fainting couch). Circa 1870, the chair is being auctioned off on May 28th by Bob Courtney Auctions, in Massachusetts.

1870 faux bamboo chair,
to be auctioned May 28th

Bergeres, bergeres everywhere! They probably deserve their own special posting. For now, consider this late 19th century gilt and leather Louis XV style bergere, being auctioned on May 22nd by Morton Kuehnert Auctioneers & Appraisers in Houston.

19 c leather bergere,
at auction May 22nd.

Perhaps you're more of the strong, dark and handsome type. This Savorano inalid chair, being auctioned off on May 24th at Bill Hood & Sons Art and Antiques Auctions , estimate $400-600 would be great in a room that needs a little bit of heft and gravitas to counter a slew of pastels. No wonder it's currently residing in Florida.

Savorano inlaid chair,
at auction May 24th

Eero Saarinen tulip chair,
at auction May 22nd.

Look at Bunny Williams's Kips Bay room at the top of this post to see how a modern chair, such as this blue tulip Eero Saarinen dining chair by Knoll, at auction through the Treadway Gallery in Cincinnati on May 22nd, estimate $200-300, can shine in an unexpected setting.

Okay I think you get the point...